Charles Byrd (fighter)
Charles Dewayne Byrd Jr. (born October 11, 1983) is a retired American mixed martial artist from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He grew up in Texas, attended Arlington High School where he wrestled and played football. Byrd competed professionally from 2009 to 2020, fighting mainly in the middleweight division. He trained with Fortis MMA in Plano, Texas, stood 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed 185 pounds, and had a 73-inch reach.
Byrd began his pro career in 2009 after a 2-0 amateur record and fought in Legacy FC before moving to the UFC. He appeared on Dana White’s Contender Series twice: on July 11, 2017 he beat Jamie Pickett by technical submission in round 1 but did not get a UFC contract, and on August 15, 2017 he defeated Randall Wallace by submission in round 2 and earned a UFC deal.
He made his UFC debut on March 17, 2018, defeating John Phillips by rear-naked choke submission in the first round. He then lost to Darren Stewart by TKO in the second round at UFC 228 on September 8, 2018. On March 2, 2019, he lost to Edmen Shahbazyan by TKO in the first round at UFC 235. After a long layoff, he returned to fight Maki Pitolo at UFC 250 on June 6, 2020, and lost by TKO in the second round, after which he announced his retirement.
Overall, Byrd finished his career with a 17-7 record, with wins coming by knockout, submission, or decision.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 17:43 (CET).